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America’s presence in the Middle East has long been a subject of interest, influence, and controversy. Over the past 15 years, the nature and location of some of the bases and facilities the U.S. operates from has evolved and changed along with the security environment. These facilities have become the focal point of a security relationship with many of America’s partners in the Middle East.
Join us as we discuss the role these facilities play in maintaining America’s influence in the region, their effects on security and stability, and the contributions host governments make to assist the U.S. military.
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Speakers
David Des Roches, Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies
David Des Roches is an Associate Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies. Prior to this, he was the director responsible for defense policy concerning Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. He has also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the DoD Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, as the senior country director for Pakistan, as the NATO operations director, and as the deputy director for peacekeeping. His first job in government was as a special assistant for strategy and later as the international law enforcement analyst in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
A British Marshall Scholar, he has also attended the Federal Executive Institute, the German Staff College’s Higher Officer Seminar, the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and the US Army Command and General Staff College.
An Airborne Ranger in the Army Reserve, he was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan. He has commanded conventional and special operations parachute units and has served on the US Special Operations Command staff as well as on the Joint Staff.
Staff Major General Nasser AbdulAziz Al-Attiyah, Inspector General, Qatar Armed Forces
After graduating from the Royal Naval College in the UK, Staff Major General Al-Attiyah joined the Qatar Armed Forces in 1986. He was an executive officer and navigation officer on the Rebega missile boat, on-surface weapons officer on the Hiwar missile boat as well as the Hiwar missile boat assistant commander and the Hiwar (G5) missile boat commander.
He was then transferred QEN to GHQ as the office director of His Highness’ Commander in Chief from 2003 to 2008. The Staff Major General was the Qatari Duty Force Commander for Peacekeeping 2006 to 2008 (UNIFIL) and then transferred from His Highness the Emir’s Office to the Office of Inspector General in 2016, where he now works. Staff Major General Al-Attiyah has attended military courses in the US, EUK, France, Holland and Qatar.
BGen Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret), CEO American Security Project
BGen Stephen Cheney, USMC (Ret) is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Security Project (ASP). He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has over 30 years experience as a Marine. His career included a wide variety of command and staff positions with the operating forces and the supporting establishment. Gen. Cheney’s primary specialty was artillery, but he focused extensively on entry-level training, commanding at every echelon at both Marine Corps Recruit Depots, to include being the Commanding General at Parris Island. He served several years in Japan and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Asia.
Other selected highlights of Gen. Cheney’s military career include tours as Deputy Executive Secretary to Defense Secretaries Cheney and Aspin; ground plans officer for Drug Enforcement Policy in the Pentagon; liaison to the Congressional Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces; and Inspector General of the Marine Corps.
Moderator:
Asha Castleberry, Adjunct Fellow, American Security Project
Asha Castleberry is an adjunct faculty professor at Fordham University. She teaches U.S. Foreign Policy and International Politics. A U.S. Army veteran, Asha recently completed a 30-month deployment in the Middle East. Since the 2014 ISIL incursion in Iraq, she served for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Kuwait. From December 2012 to June 2014, Asha served as the Kuwait Desk Officer for International Military Affairs, U.S. Army Central. During the Obama Administration, she worked with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations at the State Department. Asha is an adjunct fellow at the American Security Project, a fellow at Foreign Policy Interrupted and Defense Council Member at the Truman National Security Project.
